Friday 8 July 2011

thank you Qantas

my journey to Alice Springs began well
for a start
there was leftover gumbo to be had
before attempting the journey to the airport
then
we made it to Adelaide in record time
meaning
the Youngest and I had time for a double-shot moccha
at Lucia's
- a South Australian institution for longer than i can remember,
setting an impossibly high standard for coffee

Lucia's is my number one coffee house [after home]
closely followed by Cafe Trieste in North Beach
and Kaffeehaus Einstein [Berlin - the original one, not the Einstein chain!]
but i digress

arriving at the airport
by a miracle there was hardly a queue
and
i got my boarding pass quite quickly
it wasn't until i was rummaging for the laptop
and going through security
that i realised the boarding pass said Business
and not
economy.
thank you Qantas. it was quite the nicest flight i have enjoyed all year
the view over Australia was marvellous and
even the refreshments were nice.
[and in case the management is reading this, Penny deserves a pat on the back
she goes out of her way to be nice to passengers!]

Alice Springs is a curious place. the water in the bath was blue
[i'm told it comes from deep under the earth]
i was instructed on arrival not to walk about after dark on any account
and
i picked up a "welcome flea" who was frankly not at all welcome.

there was a Hugh Grant moment at Vinnies
the scene where his character [as PM] is doorknocking in the dodgy end of Wandsworth and someone says to him
"hey, you're not who i think you are, are you?"
those very words were addressed to me
at least
they were better than some i spoken to me in Wisconsin
where a body, having observed me draw near over a period of five minutes
walked up to me and said
"you're not who i wanted you to be"
could be worse.
you could be waking up on a sunday morning after 40 years of marriage and being told that.



anyhoo, i'm here to teach a two-day class
that hasn't been advertised
and
was only confirmed about a fortnight ago
not even sure exactly what they're hoping for
as
despite questions
nobody has managed to put it into words.
so
tomorrow
i shall be winging it...with a bundle prepared, just in case

11 comments:

  1. Good luck with the winging it....not easy when you don't know what they want.

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  2. Wow! Good luck with the class. Can't imagine that they didn't give you any direction re: what they want you to teach. It'll definitely be interesting.

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  3. business class, woohoo!
    winging it can be fun, IF.....i have been known to do so myself, but not this year as i stress over all the details of my next 4 gigs.

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  4. i checked the space and there are pots and a gas range so that's a good start
    they've bought some silk
    and
    with a bit of luck
    will have received permission for us to have an open fire today
    i understand we will have a diverse group
    women coming in from Papunya, women from suburban Alice Springs. a campfire is always a good place to gather around...

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  5. have fun! winging it should be no drama (you're on a roll surely after such a delicious flight)....

    ps if you need more karmic love vibes - I've just finished 'second skin' - mmmmmmmmm marvelous (here's some KLVs ~~~~~~~~ flying in from the east)

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  6. Brave woman - I need to know where Lucia's is - good coffee is a must.

    oh - word verif was:

    hoon vey

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  7. And here I thought you were getting a good rest at home, snuggling with the kitties, petting cows, having a little drink in the hammock. But no, you are off on another adventure. Winging it sounds fabulous. Kudos on the business class accommodations. Hope you have the same going back.

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  8. not who I wanted you to be lol like he/she was that great!!!
    hope all went well for the workshop lol

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  9. love your blog India..always make me smile.x lets face it India as soon as word gets around you are there..there will be standing room only..lucky peoplexx good luck and have fun. lyndax

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  10. I love that scene in that movie! How cool! I'd love to see u somewhere unexpected because that would mean I'm some place other than Wellies perhaps. Obviously some people have no manners or class! Fancy walking up to a stranger and saying "your not who I thought you were". Always we think of clever come backs afterwards and mine is "Your not so sh*t hot yourself!" Ur pot was squashed, lol. I'm surprised its done this many miles unscathed. Its always good to spend time with the kidlets. x

    o, and about turning up without a clue about what they want ... come on! They booked YOU. lol. I don't think they'll be wanting scrapbooking or cardmaking sweetheart. Whatever you do will be awesome cos its you. And winging it, that's how we live life isn't it. xxx

    ps. do you like my blog length replies. haha. never can do anything with only one or two words.

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  11. I love that scene in that movie! How cool! I'd love to see u somewhere unexpected because that would mean I'm some place other than Wellies perhaps. Obviously some people have no manners or class! Fancy walking up to a stranger and saying "your not who I thought you were". Always we think of clever come backs afterwards and mine is "Your not so sh*t hot yourself!" Ur pot was squashed, lol. I'm surprised its done this many miles unscathed. Its always good to spend time with the kidlets. x

    o, and about turning up without a clue about what they want ... come on! They booked YOU. lol. I don't think they'll be wanting scrapbooking or cardmaking sweetheart. Whatever you do will be awesome cos its you. And winging it, that's how we live life isn't it. xxx

    ps. do you like my blog length replies. haha. never can do anything with only one or two words.

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